When I wrote the song "Drugs" I knew exactly the stories I wanted to weave together. The story of loss of the living and the dead. The dark side of drugs and alcohol that no-one really wants to discuss. The heartbreak. I was fortunate enough to be working with @bokuwahyde and he delivered a solo that was both ripping and hopeful. He did an amazing job on the recording and now you can see for yourself just how good this guy is. Forever humble and greatly talented I give you @bokuwahyde! #guitar#solo#hardrock

This was the early progressive rock of Deep Purple, with vocalist Rod Evans, bassist Nick Simper, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, keyboardist Jon Lord, and drummer Ian Paice. Evans and Simper were important components in the development of the Deep Purple sound and its growing popularity. While they became somewhat forgotten due to the brilliance of their respective replacements, Ian Gillan and Roger Glover, who helped elevate the band to legendary superstar status, they were nevertheless essential to the group during the early period of its career. "The Book Of Taliesyn" proved that their debut album's excellence ("Shades of Deep Purple") was no fluke, as it was another album of fine progressive rock. The band again combined cover songs with original compositions. Jon Lord’s keyboards had dominated their first album, but now Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar playing began to assert itself. The group chose their cover songs wisely. Neil Diamond’s “Kentucky Woman” was a hard rocking version of the song and became a hit single in the USA. The album also created a medley of the Beatles tune “We Can Work It Out” with their own song, “Exposition.” It may not have been as creative as their slowed down and lonely version of “Help,” which appeared on their first album, but it was still a credible cover as the band changed the tempo once again. The group’s original material also stands the test of time well. “Listen Learn Read” opened the album with a blast of Jon Lord’s keyboards, with Blackmore chipping in to fill in the sounds. “Hard Rock,” retitled later on as “Wring That Neck,” was the song where Blackmore first began to assert himself as a guitarist. The album closes with a ten-minute rendition of the classic “River Deep, Mountain High,” which has been covered by a variety of artists through the years. With Lord, Blackmore, and Paice settled into an improvisational groove that is one of the highlights during the early period of their career.
#DeepPurple#TheBookOfTaliesyn#1969#HarvestRecords#GermanPressing#RitchieBlackmore#RodEvan#IanPaice#NickSimper#JonLord#HardRock#PsychedelicRock#ProgressiveRock